TWO Powys men with “appalling” criminal records have received lengthy prison terms after a hammer attack during a robbery at a Newtown service station. Gary A Davies and William G Thomas brandished weapons – including a knife and hammer – as they locked an employee in a room at the Snax 24 garage on Pool Road in the early hours of June 14, 2018. The victim was hit twice with the hammer by 47-year-old Thomas, described as the “ringleader”, when he was unable to give Thomas the keys to open a cash machine. The victim was locked in a back office as both defendants stole items from the shop but he managed to escape, before returning to the store as he attempted to contact police. He was chased by Davies but both defendants fled when the employee managed to flag down a passing lorry driver.